George i



(No Model.)

G. H. RITTINGB'R 8v G. J. EISBNGART, Jr.

BOOK CASE.

N0. 898,188. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

W ET n, if@ w lllli HH! UNTTnD STATES aTnnT @Trina iOllGlil ll. RTTTINGER AND GEORGE J. ElSENGr\R'l",JR., OF NElV YRK,}T. Y.

memories.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,188, dated February 19, 1889. Application tiled November 5, 1888. Serial No. 289,949. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Bc it known that. we, GEORGE ll. RITTIN- GER and GEORGE J. EISENGART, Jr., both of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improven ment in Book-Cases; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to t-he accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making apart of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of our improved balanced shelf book-case with the shelves partly lowered; Fig. 2, a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a cross-section in line ma: of Fig. 2, and Fig. i a top view of one Of thc weights.

The object ot our invention is to facilitate the removal of books and other articles from the upper shelves of a book-case without the .necessity ot' using a step-ladder or mounting a chair or box for the purpose.

It consists in the combination, with a set of shelves suspended within a suitable case by means of cords passin over pulleys fixed .in the top of the ease, of aeounterbalancingtrame attached to the opposite ends of said cords and a series of heavy detachable plates fitting in said frame, whereby the counterbalaneing-weight may be adjusted to that of the shelves and their contents.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a bookecase or cabinet olf any desired finish, having an upper section fitted with doors .l l, and a lower wider section or base, closed in like manner by doors (l C. `\Vithin the upper section is fitted loosely a. set of shelves, D fl), connected b v side boards and suitahlybacked. 'lhese shelves are made to till neatly the upper portion of the case, and are ailal'ilod to dropdown into the lower section. lhey are snspenderfl and upheld mn'mally in the upper section by means of cords or chains E E, passingl over suitable rollers or pulleys, F F, fitted in the top of the ease, and whose opposite ends are attached to the upper edge of a metallic frame, G, preferably of a length nearly equal to the width of the case, and which is adapted to slide vertically in ways formed by vertical cleats H H, overlapping its two ends, as shown. in Figs. 2 and 3.

llletallic plates or slabs I l are provided, having longitud in ally grooved or slotted ends, as shown at nt on. in Fig. el, adapted to einbrace the thickness of the frame, and are made slightly longer than the inner length of the fsaine. (See Fig.

The inner edges of the end bars of the `frame are recessed at their upper ends, as

shown at n. n., Fig. 2, to receive the full length of the slabs, which may thus be nserted in the upper portion of the frame, so as to bring the grooves in their ends into register with the edges of the wider portion of the end bars to embrace the saine and slide down thereon, as illustrated in said Fig. 2; hence by lifting each slab until its ends are brought opposite the recesses n n it may be readily lifted out, but otherwise it is securely held in the frame.

The frame G and slabs l I are so reduced inV thickness as to oeeupybutlittle space, and hence do not increase appreciably the depth of the case, or retpiire its enlargeinentbeyond the customary dimensions.

The space L in thelower section ol.' the ease in front of that required to permit of thelowering of the shelves maybe partitioned off and utilized for additional shel t`rooin, as illustrated in Fig. 2l.

ln the use of this improved hook-case the shelves, when filled or partly filled, are readily counter-balanced, so as to remain normally in their elevai ed position, by adding or removing the weights or slabs l l to or from the frame (i, in manner as described. lVhen it is desired to reach the upper-shelf, it is only necessary to draw down the set of shelves until the required shelf is within easy reach, after which it will automatically return toits normal position unless made fast by a catch or other device, which may be provided for the purpose, but which need not herein be described.

Te claim as our invention- The combination. Substantially as set forth, In testimony whereof We have signed our of the book-ease, the vertically-Sliding set of names to this specification 1n the presence of Io shelves, the eountorbnlafnengimme moving two subscribing Wltnesses.

n Vertical Ways formed in the case, the Cords GEO. H. RITTINGER.

5 connecting the Shelves and frame, the pul- GEO. J. EISENGART, JR.

leys over which the Cords are 0m'1'ed,andthe XVinosses: detachable Weights uting odg-@wise in said A. NJESBERAI frame, one above the other. E. M. VATSON. 

